Modeling Realistic Scenery Series | The Bluff - Part 2

Do you want to transform your Model Railroad or Diorama? This is an exclusive (tutorial), demonstrating the superior scenery painting method - "Wet-On-Wet."

[@boomerdiorama]

The "Wet-on-Wet" technique in five simple steps: 1. Spray water to wet down. 2. Stab in some earth color. 3. Spray down again. 4. Watch it run and form it's own filter. 5. Wash, Rinse, Repeat to taste. 😁

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Nice video mate. All the colours just blend really well together. Top notch mate.- Nicholas.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks a ton! I am surprised I get anything done at all sometimes. I appreciate that. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@mr.e1944]

Great tutorial. That postage stamp of the layout looks awesome! I can just see the sewage pouring into the ocean.

[@boomerdiorama]

Who knows what comes out of a storm drain these day eh? . . . lol. Thanks so much!

[@mr.e1944]

@@boomerdiorama Thank you Boomer!

[@harperlarry49]

🍎🍎 Two apples for one of the best teachers I have ever had. With each video I add new paint colors to my wish list/inventory as well as new painting methods. Thanks for sharing this. Cheers - Larry.

[@boomerdiorama]

Wow, thank you! You are welcome Larry! Cheers.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

It's been a long day, guess I should have watched part one lol. Putting the cart before the horse again I am.

[@boomerdiorama]

Something we all do . . . lol. Cheers.

[@paulhayton3423]

Even watching full screen on a 55 TV this still looks very real... magic.

[@boomerdiorama]

Than is good to know. Thanks for sharing that Paul. Maybe next year I up the game on the resolution and better lighting as well. Cheers.

[@herrkiwi3110]

I find painting scenery like that one of the most enjoyable relaxing parts of the hobby. I have no artistic training and have learnt all of my techniques from artists like yourself on the internet so I greatly appreciate you taking the time to share this content. I am also very lucky that I spend a lot of time driving with my current job and I get to see amazing rock formations/landscapes in the part of New Zealand I live in which help me imagine how I am going transfer that to my layout. Thanks as always.

[@boomerdiorama]

That is awesome! New Zealand is an unbelievable landscape to glean inspiration from as well. Cheers.

[@georgiasunbelt]

Doing an excellent job in your scenery pursuit…nice tutorial but mostly the thought process in creating the scene 👍🏽

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You. I think mood has something to do with it as well. Sometimes the latter is hard to predict. Results can be varied, etc. In the end a good effort usually produces satisfactory results if we push through. But then, we can always add another layer . . . Cheers.

[@iflyrattraps]

This has quickly become my favorite modeling channel. So clear, so thoughtful, and most importantly, top notch modeling. Thank you.

[@boomerdiorama]

Wow, thank you! I like your "Cat" avatar. Looks a little like my "Dusty." Cheers.

[@iflyrattraps]

@@boomerdiorama That's our cat, Dewey, also known as Mr. Tabs..

[@aaamodeltrainsandplanes3774]

Hey boomer loving the scenes you create of a prototypical model railroad and the way you make them fit in a space . Just looks awesome and real !!! Oh and I finally found some foam board haha after months of looking. I'll be modeling the high desert. It will be based on the little book cliff railroad .Have a great day cheers 🚂 - from the Colorado Rockies

[@boomerdiorama]

I would love to model a desert scene one day. The desert has a beauty all it's own. Cheers.

[@peterainsworth8466]

Your techniques are great. Your videos are great. Your explanations are great. Due to time delay differences (Australia) I get them a little bit late but I look for them as soon as I get the chance. I often whip down to the art shop and buy the products you use straight away. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@boomerdiorama]

Sure thing Peter. Sorry for the time zone deviation. Thank You for the support as well. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@peterainsworth8466]

No need to be sorry. Can't do anything about the time zone - you didn't create the world..... although you're doing a pretty good re-creation.... You could write the manual on building one.

[@PeterTillman3]

Wet on wet and thin, thin, thin - I have these written on post it notes for when I am working on a model. Spectacular results on the diorama Boomer.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You Peter. "Wet on Wet and thin, thin, thin" yes Sir indeed, you can't go wrong.

[@205004gs]

It looks awesome, and my new motto for painting on my layout is "thin is in" lol. It really works wonders! Super work as always, and have a great evening.👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Awesome Gene! Thank you!

[@canyonpast]

Truly Amazing.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You! Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@patmccarthy1624]

Microscenes. You almost can't make them small enough. The hard part is building your layers around these scenes, and eventually making them all come together. Great lesson, Boomer!

[@boomerdiorama]

Everything seems to work out in the end after a few more layers . . . lol. Cheers.

[@stevenstorey1945]

Remarkably realistic! And a great Vlog as to how achieving the natural scene is possible. CHEERS

[@boomerdiorama]

Many thanks!

[@marztube6158]

"Wet on Wet", your starting to sound like Bob Ross! Any moment now I'm waiting for you to say "there are no such things as mistakes, just happy little accidents" 😂🤣😂

[@boomerdiorama]

Bob Ross was exactly right about that. All the perceived mistakes become practical anomalies in the painters zone. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@13bplux]

The immersion!!!

[@boomerdiorama]

A few tidal pools and some gulls might do the trick as well . . . lol.

[@schadowolf]

Well done, great tutorial!

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Looking fantastic Boomer! I love the surprises that can be had with washes. You are a true artist to be sure. Cheers. -grant

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@modelfxaustralia8963]

Have to lift my game, thanks

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes indeed! We all seek to lift our game. The beauty is the reward factor increases incrementally with the lift as well. Cheers.

[@michaeltrufitt5477]

The whole scene just looks so real you have great talent I am really enjoying this whole build thanks Boomer 😀👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You! I'm glad you like it. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@MosriteCharlie]

Excellent series Boomer.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you!

[@richardsgro3562]

Merci encore 🇨🇵😍👍👍👍👍

[@boomerdiorama]

😁

[@jstockton303]

I like how you create the overhang of soil at the top of the bank, it really adds to the overall effect of pull your view down to rocks. When you started the video are you applying the paint straight from bottle? When air brush what do you use to thin the paint and the ratio. As you use the washes, do use a pre thin paint or is it brush on paint and then thin with water? The summary of the process was very helpful, after watching the video multiple times I’m start see how to apply the techniques.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you for asking. I always thin my paint. Never straight from the bottle. I use Isopropyl Alcohol to thin Tamiya paint at a minimum of 50/50 ratio. I go way thinner than the latter though. "I thin my paint until the cows come home." Every application is different. You will pick it up when you pick up the airbrush and start shooting paint. It comes to everyone eventually if you practice. As you know theory is dead without practice. Cheers. ~ Boomer.

[@Death_From_Below]

I am used to painting 54mm figures, didn't use water but in this application I love the effect of water.

[@boomerdiorama]

As you know, figurines are a whole different ball game.

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

The painting part seems normal to me. I’ve been doing his for different dioramas and scenery for tabletop games for a year and studied a bit of art in college as part of my degree. What I want to know is how you went from some kind of base to having the rock layers going side ways, the things that look like real rocks tumbling down, and then the ground above that.

[@boomerdiorama]

I sculpted the rock from Foam and Cell Clay. It's all in the chronological videos' of the "River Road" build.😁

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Little at a time layer by layer by layer over layer. The scene will tell you when it's enough.

[@boomerdiorama]

It's becoming a deep project every step of the way. The art of diorama can be very engrossing at times. Happy New Year!.

[@PeterCPRail8748]

@@boomerdiorama Happy New Years to you as well.

[@TheTrainboard]

Boomer, I wish to use your methods, often step by step, exactly what you do, like in this modeling scenery series- the bluff. I wish to record my attempts in a youtube video on my new channel. By philosophy and methods, you are the exemplary person for me-- what I would do and how. I will credit you in my video, pointing viewers to your site. But, Im uncomfortable to follow what you do in such detail in any of my own videos. I do enjoy sharing my videos, especially when people comment...the feeling that we connect. And it encourages viewers to try stuff because if I can do stuff as a noobie, they should try stuff. If you are uncomfortable in any way, I will film my attempt but keep the videos private for only me and my son, Ryan, to view. My son, now 29, did a review of my earlier trainboard when he was 8, 21 years ago. We really enjoy seeing both of us and that earlier trainboard filming, so thats also behind us filming also. Please advise, because we, in no way, wish to offend you and your special effort and long hours behind your own videos. Gary

[@boomerdiorama]

Feel free to do whatever you want. I appreciate the shout-out for sure, but run with whatever method inspires you to grow your skill set and, above all, have fun with your son. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@TheWoodlandhoBo]

Thanks

[@boomerdiorama]

Cheers!

[@TheWoodlandhoBo]

@@boomerdiorama I don’t have a great deal of spare cash but it’s worth every penny to me. Even if it can buy you some brushes. Thank you

[@kenfolstad1346]

Boomer, wow, just amazing!!!!!!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You. Some areas are fleshing out as they say. Cheers.

[@tomspettel3646]

I see you have been using tamiya paints. I went to the art store and see golden makes a whole line of great colors. Is there an advantage of using tamiya colors over the golden colors ?

[@boomerdiorama]

Great question. I use both Golden and Tamiya paints for scenery, buildings, etc. It depends on the application. I like to spray or use Tamiya through my airbrush mostly - but not always. With Golden I generally use with a traditional paint brush, but you can get (airbrush thinner) for Golden as well. Having said this, they are both friendly paints in that they thin equally well with water and the pigment quality is superb. The advantage of using Tamiya over the Golden is Tamiya thins well with (IPA) Isopropyl Alcohol and flows beautifully through the airbrush without clogging. I never - ever experience airbrush clogging when I thin Tamiya with IPA. IPA atomizes Tamiya paint with extreme efficiency and also cleans the airbrush at the same time. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@frankhellman6879]

I was just looking at the work of Lance Mindheim before coming over here. He's got some serious talent too, like you do. It's gets hard to differentiate between model & reality at this level. Unfortunately, he doesn't share his techniques.

[@boomerdiorama]

Lance Midheim is a fantastic model railroader. One of the best out there for sure. I have great respect for him because he sees the genre as an art form as well. He understands color and composition as well as anyone I know. He does have a Blog here where he demonstrates some of his methodology: lancemindheim.com/

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Lance has been a huge influence on my modeling. Before I even started, I read through his entire blog. I learned so much. I now have three of his books.

[@jstockton303]

@@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout Which of his books did you buy, is there a favorite?

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

@@jstockton303 sorry I'm late, I just saw your question. I have How to Build a Switching Layout, How to Operate a Modern Era Switching Layout, and Model Railroading as Art. As far as a favorite, it just depends on where you are in the process. Right now I would say MR as Art is my favorite, but I learned a lot from the other two as well.

[@Phoenixknight79]

I bought an airbrush from a good friend of mine but I need to get a compressor. Is there a certain size I should be looking for cause I want to start practicing in using it. with my dioramas, I want to make them more real looking.

[@boomerdiorama]

Go to a tool supply store and buy a small contractor (2HP) compressor with a tank. Bring your airbrush with you so they sell you the right fittings, etc. I use a Makita Model MAC700. Good to go for twenty years if you take care of it.

[@wethepeople7961]

My son does the same , when that compressor turns on we all grab our ear plugs😂

[@boomerdiorama]

Lol . . . My old compressor used to shake the house as well. This one I have now is fairly quiet, thank goodness! Cheers.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

Very nice Boomer. How did you get the celluclay clay overhang of the rock face to look like it is all held together by soil and roots?

[@boomerdiorama]

You pack it on wet, and then pull it over the edge with a large dry paint brush when it starts to kick. Just try working it over whenever you like and it should shred on it's own as you play and tease it over the edge. Cheers.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

Thank you Boomer. I will definately give it a try.

[@robertbeaty4909]

Reminds me of Roger Dean except in 3D.

[@boomerdiorama]

Wow! That's quite a compliment Robert. Thank You. Cheers.

[@robertbeaty4909]

@@boomerdiorama It's how you blend colors, water dictates what goes where. I used to study his technique in my teens and early 20's and it still blows me away now that I'm in my 60's.

[@davidcurtis5398]

I want to watch the video where you make this scene. I want to learn how to make the hill and the overgrown area. Please ...

[@boomerdiorama]

Go to videos on the home page and scroll backwards. ;-)

[@hangerbird]

I'm guessing that you must have thinned the Tamiya for it be brushed like that.

[@boomerdiorama]

I airbrush it as well. Please see this tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIHcY6KlZdVkrqM

[@hangerbird]

@@boomerdiorama watched it tonight. Good info.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@hangerbird Glad to hear it! Cheers.

[@4everdc302]

Sir Bob Ross would pat ya on the shoulder good fellow.🚂🚃🚃🇨🇦 Just picked up a 3bottle set of AK grime colors.Been using there paint pens.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you Sir. Paint pens are cool. All paint is cool! Cheers.

[@4everdc302]

Ya man👍.These pencils can be used with water or thinner.Work crazy well on CN brown box cars.Im not as good as the result lol